Darts results: Jonny Clayton beats Josh Rock in Players Championship 12 final

By Sporting Life

Darts

Sun May 21, 2023 · 2y ago

Jonny Clayton claimed a first Players Championship title in over two years in Leicester on Sunday, defeating Josh Rock 8-5 in the final of Players Championship 12.

Clayton produced a trio of ton-plus averages en route to his second ProTour title of the year, providing himself the perfect tonic ahead of his bid for a second Cazoo Premier League crown on Thursday at the O2.

The five-time TV title winner defeated Dave Chisnall and Damon Heta in the quarter and semi-finals respectively, before seeing off the challenge of Rock to rack up a fifth Players Championship title of his career.

CLAYTON CLINCHES PC12 CROWN! 🏆

Jonny Clayton defeats Josh Rock in a repeat of last month's Austrian Darts Open final to triumph at Players Championship 12!

The Welshman converts three ton-plus finishes in Sunday's showpiece to claim the spoils! 👏

📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8 pic.twitter.com/D2A0HgV58t
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 21, 2023

"Josh is a class act with a massive future so I'm going to enjoy any win against him, especially in a final," said Clayton, who defeated Rock to win the Austrian Darts Open (ET5) final in April.

"I came here this weekend to get valuable match practice; I'm playing Gerwyn Price, arguably the best player in the world, on Thursday night so I need the practice.

"I'll admit I'm the laziest practicer at home, so I needed this and it keeps me sharp for next week.

"I'm playing okay again and I've got a smile on my face. Hopefully it gives me that confidence to pick up the trophy for a second time."

🗣️ "Hopefully it gives me the confidence to pick up that trophy on Thursday night."

Hear the thoughts of PC12 winner Jonny Clayton, who enjoys the perfect preparation ahead of Thursday's Cazoo Premier League Play-Offs! 🏆

📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8 pic.twitter.com/7Bmr6M0L3i
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) May 21, 2023

Clayton began the day in style, averaging 109.98 in a 6-0 whitewash of Karel Sedlacek, before coming through a last-leg decider with Jurjen van der Velde.

A 6-1 win over Kim Huybrechts was followed by a 107.40 average in a 6-4 victory over Pascal Rupprecht to reach the last eight at the Morningside Arena.

Having taken out top seed Chisnall, Clayton averaged 103.45 to edge out Heta 6-5 before defying a near-100 average from Rock in the final.

Rising star Rock took the scalps of Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson in the last 16 and last 32 respectively on his way to a second Players Championship title of the year, averaging 105.85 in a 6-5 win over Anderson.